Dutch Govt bows to U.N., Arab pressure, and moves embassy

Press, 28 August 1980, Page 6

Dutch Govt bows to U.N., Arab pressure, and moves embassy

NZPA-Reuter The Hague The Dutch Government has announced that it will move the country’s embassy in Israel from Jersualem to Tel Aviv. The. decision followed threats by Arab States to sever diplomatic and economic relations with countries which continue to. maintain missions in Jerusalem. It also follows a United Nations Security Council resolution calling r for-the withdrawal of embassies. from Jerusalem.

The Netherlands was the only European country to have its embassy in the disputed. city and the change was condemned in Israel. Avraham Sharir, chairman of the ruling Likud Party, said it was “a disgraceful surrender to oil pressure on the part of our best friend in Europe. But the world today worships the god of oil.” Venezuela, ‘ Uruguay, Chile, Ecuador, and Costa Rica had already .decided

to move their embassies from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv because of an Israeli declaration that’ undivided Jerusalem was the country's eternal capital. Only half a dozen embassies now remain in the city. The United Nations Security Council last week censured Israel’s policy towards Jeriisalehl and called for embassies to be removed from itA statement from the Dutch Government said it had been subjected, to pressure, including-ultima-

turns which it regretted, to make the move. However, the Foreign Minister (Mr Christoph van der Klaauw) said Arab demands and economic relations with Arab countries had not been a main factor. ?■; ‘ ‘.‘The United Nations resolution was foremost in bur minds,” Mr van der Klaauw said. The Government said it attached undiminished importance to its close friendship with . Israel arid its right to secure borders.